From the Unconscious to the Conscious 



' Will, without intelligence (and in itself it is 

 no other), blind, irresistible, as we see it in the 

 inorganic and in the vegetable world and in their 

 laws; as we see it also in the vegetative life of our 

 own bodies, this Will, I say, thanks to the objectified 

 world which lies open to it and develops in order 

 to serve it, comes to know that it desires, and what 

 it desires; and this is the world as it is, it is life 

 as realised in the world.' 



But this limited consciousness which the will thus 

 acquires is still more ephemeral, and does not overstep 

 the temporary boundaries of individualisation. It is 

 only whilst individualisation lasts that it has a part to 

 play, and this part is only to substitute an intentional 

 and limited activity for its unconsidered and boundless 

 impulses. 



It is therefore necessary to distinguish accurately 

 between the unconscious will and its conscious expres- 

 sion. That which is really superior in man, his eternal 

 essence, his genius, his inspiration, his creative power, 

 all these are impersonal, all belong to the unconscious 

 will. 



The domain of consciousness, created by the objecti- 

 fication of the attributes of the will, attaches to the 

 cerebral psychism only. Consciousness in the higher 

 animals and man is bound to their organic representa- 

 tion, it is born and dies with it. 



Death brings it to annihilation. As a set-off, that, 

 which is the essence of Being, the Will, is not affected. 



* When we lose intellect by death, we are thereby 

 carried back into the primitive state, devoid of 

 knowledge, but not absolutely unconscious. It is 

 doubtless rather a state superior to the state of 

 unconsciousness, in which the distinction between 

 subject and object disappears. . . . 



192 



